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Dictation apps for Windows 11, compared
Seven ways to dictate on a Windows 11 PC, from the two built into Windows to paid apps, with prices, Windows versions and whether each works without the internet.
Which dictation app fits your Windows 11 PC?
It depends on what you need, so here’s the short answer by need. Start with what Windows already has: voice typing is one shortcut away (Windows key + H), and voice access works without the internet.
- Nothing to install: Windows voice typing.
- No internet, or controlling the whole PC by voice: Windows voice access, or Superwhisper with local models.
- Polished, formatted writing: Wispr Flow or Aqua Voice.
- Your exact words with AI cleanup off, from a small app that also runs on your Mac: blabe, ours.
- Windows on Arm: Superwhisper lists ARM64. blabe needs an x64 PC, and Wispr Flow lists x64.
At a glance
| App | Price | Windows | Works offline |
|---|---|---|---|
| blabe (ours) | $7.99 a month or $69 a year, no meter or monthly allowance (fair use applies). Free 2-day trial. | Windows 11 on x64 PCs | No |
| Windows voice typing | Part of Windows | Windows 11 and 10 | No, it needs the internet |
| Windows voice access | Part of Windows | Windows 11, version 22H2 and later | Yes, after a first setup online |
| Wispr Flow | Free for 2,000 words a week on desktop. Pro $15 a month or $144 a year. | Windows 10 or 11, x64 | No |
| Aqua Voice | Free for 1,000 words. Pro $10 a month or $96 a year; Max $30 a month or $288 a year. | Windows 10 and 11 | Cloud dictation needs the internet; offline varies by platform and mode |
| Superwhisper | Free plan with local models. Pro $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 once. | Windows 10 and 11, x64 and ARM64 | Yes, with local models |
| Spokenly | Free with local models or your own keys. Pro $99.99 a year. | Windows (version not stated) | Yes, with local models |
The apps
1. blabe
We make blabe, so it comes first; judge it by the same facts as the rest. It works in any Windows app and transcribes with Microsoft’s MAI-Transcribe 2. Transcription Microsoft ranks #1 on FLEURS.
- On Windows, blabe is a 12.1 MB download: one process, ~22 MB idle. On a Mac, text lands about 1 s after you stop speaking. See the numbers
- It removes “um” and “uh” (you can turn that off). AI cleanup: Aggressive, Standard or Off.
- $7.99 a month or $69 a year for up to 3 devices in any mix of Windows and Mac.
- What it doesn’t do on Windows yet: it needs Windows 11 on an x64 PC (no Windows 10 or Arm), it presses Enter only in the Codex and Claude desktop apps’ message boxes and only if you turn sending on, and in apps run as administrator it leaves your words on the clipboard instead of pasting. It needs the internet. blabe vs Windows voice typing
2. Windows voice typing
For dictation that’s already on your PC.
- Press Windows key + H in a text box. It uses online speech recognition powered by Azure Speech services, lists 46 languages for Windows 11, and has commands such as “delete that” and “press Enter”.
- On Copilot+ PCs, in English, fluid dictation corrects grammar, punctuation and filler words as you speak.
3. Windows voice access
For controlling the whole PC by voice, and for dictating without a connection.
- It opens and switches apps, browses the web and writes text by voice, with on-device speech recognition that works even without the internet.
- The first setup needs an internet connection, and it needs Windows 11, version 22H2 or later.
4. Wispr Flow
For speech turned into polished writing, on your PC and your phone.
- It removes fillers, adds punctuation and formats your writing, using Wispr’s own speech models, including Canto.
- Windows 10 or 11 on x64, plus Mac, iPhone and Android. Pro is $15 a month, or $12 a month billed yearly.
- Full blabe vs Wispr Flow breakdown
5. Aqua Voice
For text formatted for each app, and for editing a selection by voice.
- Runs on Windows 10 and 11, Mac, iPhone and Android, and transcribes with Avalon, Aqua’s own cloud model.
- Free for 1,000 words; Pro is $10 a month or $96 a year.
- blabe vs Aqua Voice
6. Superwhisper
For a choice of local and cloud models, including on Windows on Arm.
- Runs natively on Windows 10 and 11, on x64 and ARM64.
- Free with local Whisper models; Pro is $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 once, and one Pro key covers your Macs, Windows PCs, iPhone and Android.
- blabe vs Superwhisper
7. Spokenly
For a free app with local models or your own keys, on Windows, Mac and Linux.
- Free with local models or your own API keys; Pro is $99.99 a year and is available on macOS, Windows, Linux and iOS.
- blabe vs Spokenly
Also on Windows. Dragon Professional v16 is optimized for Windows 11, and FluidVoice says its Windows app is in beta. We haven’t compared their prices or features here.
Try blabe free for 2 days.
No card, no email, no sign-up. Windows 11 on an x64 PC, or macOS 14 or later on Apple silicon or Intel.